"It's Not Love If It Hurts" //5sos

/148/

  "I swear, every bone in my body hurts."

  "Every muscle in my body hurts. I don't think I can lift another pound."

  Annie snorted, making her voice annoying and deep. "Do you even lift bro?"

  Calum shook his head. "Not anymore. I think both of my arms are broken. Our personal trainer pushed us so hard today. I just want to lay here and die."

  That was actually pretty close to what they were doing already. Annie had driven herself home from self defense training, and Calum had been dropped off by Luke after working out, and both of them currently laid on the floor, feet facing opposite directions, there heads next to each other.

  Annie groaned. "We worked on rolls and drops today. I was flipped over someone's shoulder, repeatedly, and had to recover immediately and fight them. I think my back is broken."

  Calum smiled lightly. "Probably. Which one of us is making dinner?"

  Annie groaned again. "Let's just make Ashton bring us food or something."

  "Nah," Calum rocked his head to the side lightly, his neck hurting even at that. "The boys are busy. They're partying tonight, since we're done working until after Christmas."

  "Drinking?" Annie asked glumly. If they were, then Johanna would have to babysit them, and she'd be a disaster the next day.

  Luckily, Calum shook his head again, wincing at the movement. "Well... maybe a little. But they aren't going to get drunk."

  "That's good." Annie decided she should probably get up, and grunted as she forced herself into a sitting position. "We should take a bath," she murmered.

  Calum raised his eyesbrows, looking at the ceiling. "Together?"

  "Yeah, why not?"

  He sat up at this, his sore muscles objecting. "Wait, actually?"

  "Sure. We only have one bath anyways, and I don't want to shower."

  He closed his eyes, and pushed himself to hit feet with difficulty. "You get the tub, I'll get the Asprin."

  "Deal."

  Annie forced herself to her feet too, waking slowly to the bathroom. Every step hurt, but she forced herself to keep walking. Right now, she needed three things; a bath, pain meds, and Calum. And she was about to get all three.

  She struggled putting the plug in, then turned the tap on. As Annie leaned against the counter, she forced herself to pull off her pants, ignoring the way they pushed against her sore body. Annie was working on her shirt when Calum came in with the meds.

  "I already took some," he said, setting the bottle next to her. Annie took the meds quickly, as Calum stripped down to his boxers. Annie's arms were too sore, she knew it would hurt pulling them up above her head. "You need help?" Calum asked tiredly.

  Annie just nodded, and he pulled her shirt over her head, trying his best to be gentle. "Could you help me with my sports bra too? It doesn't clasp in the back."

  Before too much longer (though it did take some time, with their sore muscles), they were both nude. Annie turned off the water, and Calum climbed in, Annie getting in after him,  half on him, half off. She moaned at the feeling of the hot water, and rest her head against Calum's chest. "This was a really good idea."

  "It was," he agreed, his eyes closed at the comfort of the hot water against his aching muscles. "You smell really bad, by the way."

  "You're even worse. It should be illegal to sweat that much."

  "Catagory is: What to talk about when you're naked in the bath with a pretty girl. Answer: how sweaty and gross you both are."

  Annie giggled, and Calum could feel her body moving against his chest.

  "You have a really cute giggle," he murmered quietly.

  She relaxed, sighing against his form. "Thanks. You have a cute smile."

  Calum grinned smally as he realized something. "This is the first time we've been naked together. Like, we've gotten close, but this is the first time were were both naked, together."

  "You're so weird," she murmered, relaxing completely against his body. She felt his hand over her legs protectively, and his other hand intertwined with hers.

  "It's true," he said, maybe trying to prove his point, maybe trying to agree with Annie. "It's nice. I like being close to you."

  Annie closed her eyes, her breathes slowing down like she was about to fall asleep. She understood what he meant, what he was hinting at. It was nice that she was recovering. She used to think that she'd never be able to be close to someone ever again, that because she was raped, she'd never feel comfortable around a boy ever again. But here she was, a few seconds from falling asleep in the bathtub next to someone she loved more than she thought possible.

  And, maybe, she was ready to go further. "Cal?"

  "Hmm?"

  "Let's have sex," she whispered, not meeting his eyes. "Like, not right now. But soon."

  And she couldn't see, but he was smiling wistfully. He hadn't been sure whether Annie would ever be able to recover fully either. "Okay," he responded, tracing little designs on her knees comfortingly, under the water. "When you're ready."

  They were a tangle of limps, aching muscles, and sweat. But more importantly, they were happy.

  And that's all that really matters in the end.